The borough's three MPs put aside political differences to fight on behalf of residents who do not want to see a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Conservatives Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood) and John Randall (Uxbridge) joined Labour member for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell in the House of Commons debate on expansion last Tuesday.

It was called by the transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, who is due to announce next month whether the Government backs BAA's bid for a new runway.

Mr Hoon had already exchanged sharp words with his Tory shadow, Theresa Villiers, by the time Mr Hurd became the first Hillingdon MP to speak. The Tories have pledged not to build the runway if they are elected.

Mr Hurd challenged Mr Hoon over climate change, and asked if he agreed airport expansion would make a mockery of the Government's environmental strategy.

Mr McDonnell then gave a lengthy speech in which he recapped the whole saga, highlighting the 1,500 people in Sipson who stand to lose their homes and a further 4,000 in the villages of Longford, Harm-ondsworth and Harlington who will be affected by noise and pollution.

He said: "The policy will cause immense social division. Many people are disillusioned with the whole process of consultation.

"They are angry, and the anger is building into a form of direct action the like of which neither the Government nor the country have ever seen."

Mr Randall was next to deliver his views, referring to Mr McDonnell as a 'comrade in arms' and adding: "My constituents are living on death row. That's not an exaggeration.

"We are talking about uprooting 4,000 people, there is nowhere for them to go.

"We do not know if cemeteries are safe, centuries-old communities and buildings will be destroyed and we do not even know there is an argument in favour of development.

"The consultation document was extremely flawed, and I would say to the secretary of state it was a 'dodgy dossier'."

Mr Hurd was given his turn, and spoke passionately about how although his constituents were not directly in the firing line: 'Hillingdon speaks with one voice.'

He said: "The Government appear to have made their mind up, despite evidence the social cost will be enormous. We are yet to be given an assessment of the health impact, which is probably the biggest issue for my constituents.

"People want a better airport, not necessarily a bigger airport. The decision is based on inadequate data, a discredited consultation process and a tremendous insensitivity to the reality of climate change.

"It drives another nail into the coffin of public trust in our public institutions."